Both players’ PGA Tour experiences were limited. Gilliam played in the 2005 U.S. Open, but failed to make the cut. Muehr enjoyed a little more success. He played in 32 tournaments in 2001, with two top-10 finishes.

Today, Muehr and Gilliam are back in the amateur ranks and spent the weekend competing in the Players Amateur at Berkeley Hall Club.

Muehr, who was forced to retire in 2003 after he was diagnosed with melanoma, finished the first two rounds at 3 over par.

“Before, I would have been miserable playing at 3 over par after two days,” Muehr said Friday. “But my livelihood is not depending on it and I have to go back to work Monday morning.”

These days, Muehr is a financial adviser with Merrill Lynch, a husband and father of three.

“I’d like to play more than I do, but it’s just not meant to be,” he said.

Muehr regained his amateur status, along with his health, in 2007 when his cancer went into remission.

“It’s all relative,” Muehr said, before giving a long pause. “My attitude is definitely a little more laid back now than it was when I was playing for a living. These (younger players) are striving to build resumes, but for me it’s just the opportunity to compete.”

Gilliam decided to hang up his golf cleats in 2008, only to pick them up and dust them off two years later. This time, he would wear them as an amateur.

“I’ve always loved the game,” Gilliam said. “But the travel as a professional golfer can be pretty challenging.”

Gilliam now serves as an amateur promotions manager for golf apparel company FootJoy, a job he describes as “a dream come true.”

“What really caused (my return to golf) was that I could play in some of the events I was already working around anyway,” said Gilliam. “Amateur golf is luckily just something that I’m capable of doing with the minimal amount of practice.”

Muehr, meanwhile, is looking for more opportunities to play. The United States Golf Association has announced two mid-amateurs will be selected to the U.S. Walker Cup team. That news was enough to stoke Muehr’s competitive streak.

“That has kind of given me to inspiration to focus a little bit and try to play a little bit more,” Muehr said. “I told myself that if I can do well in a couple of events, I can ask my wife for a few more hall passes to play at some other events.”

Walker Cup captain Jim Holtgrieve said in the announcement that mid-amateurs, players who are 25 and older, can bring leadership and maturity to the team. Muehr and Gilliam try to fill that role in events like the Players Am, competing alongside current college stars and other aspiring pros.

“I wouldn’t say I mentor these young men, but I just offer advice when it’s asked,” Gilliam said. “Golf brings out the true personality in people.

“You know, when your chips are down and all the momentum is going in the wrong direction, it’s pretty easy to act like a fool, and that’s kind of showing your character. I try to treat golf as a gentleman’s game and I carry myself that way, I would like to think.”